154 



Garden Season Categories 



The consumption of major crop species by selected game species was analyzed with respect to 

 time periods that reflected seasonal variations in weather as well as human activities. Three garden 

 season categories were designated, based on weather, garden activities, timber harvest, and chicle 

 tapping (cf., Barrera de Jorgenson, 1993; see Ch^ter 2 for additional information): 



One, "Clear and bum" was the period from January to April. During this period, the 

 weather was dry and getting wanner, gardeners cleared and burned new garden sites, 

 old gardens and any leftover crops were left unattended, timber was harvested, and by 

 about the end of February the chicle tapping season was over. 



Two, "Plant and weed" was the period from May to August. During this period, the 

 weather was rainy and hot, gardeners planted and weeded new gardens, little timber 

 was harvested, and by late August the chicle tapping season was just beginning. 



Three, "Weed and harvest" was the period from September to December. During this 

 period, the weather was rainy and getting cooler, gardeners weeded and harvested 

 their gardens, new garden sites were selected, no timber was harvested, and the chicle 

 tapping season was underway. 



Statistical Analyses 



The analyses in this chapter were primarily descriptive. This was due to the fact that sample 

 sizes were too small for comparisons. The following terms were used: J = mean, SE = standard 

 error, and n = sample size. 



